“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Gospel Enquiry
The Church celebrates the Feast of St Bartholomew on August 24. Tradition has it that Bartholomew, who is mentioned in the lists of the apostles, is Nathanael, who is summoned by Philip to meet Jesus. As we read in the Gospel for his feast day, Jesus calls him a true Israelite. St Bartholomew served as a missionary in the areas we know today as Iran and Turkey. He was martyred in Armenia. Tradition tells us that he was flayed and beheaded.
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the man that Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip answered, “Come and see.”
As Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, “Here is truly an Israelite. There is nothing false in him.”
Nathanael asked, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me.”
Then Nathanael said to Jesus, “Teacher, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus said to Nathanael, “Do you believe simply because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.” And Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and ‘angels of God going up and coming down’ on the Son of Man.” (John 1:45-51)
SEE
What happens in this Gospel story? How does it apply to you? Have you ever been introduced to Jesus? What happened? What did you do? Or have you ever introduced someone to Jesus? What happened?
Why did Philip want to introduce Nathanael to Jesus? Why does Nathanael acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God?
What happens for those who believe that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets? What does Jesus mean by his prediction?
JUDGE
What do you think about this event in Jesus’ life? What does the story tell you about the people who knew and trusted Jesus?
What does your faith tell you about Jesus and his presence in your life? What part do the Law and the Prophets play in your faith? Or is your faith built on something else?
If you and your family and friends sought to live as followers of Jesus, what would change in your lives?
ACT
What needs to change in the world so that people seek to develop a relationship with Jesus, like Nathanael’s relationship with him?
What simple action can you take over the next week to contribute to bringing about that change so that more people will seek to follow Jesus?
Who can you involve in this action and how will you go about involving them?
Author: Pat Branson
Image source: https://www.growchristians.org/2016/08/24/celebrating-st-bartholomew-apostle/